NHS Employers have failed to sufficiently allay the concerns of junior doctors in the ongoing ACAS talks and so strike action is back on with the first of 3 days scheduled for 12 January.
The impasse centres on the doctors’ key concerns about safety and fairness arising from the latest draft of the proposed new contract which (amongst other things) restructures pay terms to achieve the Government’s stated aim of a fully flexible NHS service where doctors are working weekends and other unsociable hours in a way which is affordable. The doctors’ position in essence is that it is unfair to not draw a distinction and make an appropriate additional payment for unsociable working.
ACAS discussions continue and so it is hoped for all concerned (not least those with long-awaited medical procedures scheduled on the strike days) that a resolution can be found that avoids the anticipated strike action.